Iran Might Permit US Inspectors from Nuclear Watchdog if Agreement Reached

• Tehran and Washington have conducted five rounds of nuclear discussions.
• Eslami states that US inspectors might be permitted if Iran’s conditions are acknowledged.
• The Iranian president expressed gratitude to Oman for its mediation efforts.

On Wednesday, Iran indicated that it might allow American inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog to examine its facilities if a deal can be struck with the United States.

Iran has faced long-standing accusations from Western nations of pursuing nuclear weapons, allegations that Tehran vehemently denies, asserting that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.

In recent weeks, Tehran and Washington have engaged in five rounds of discussions regarding this matter, marking their highest-level communications since the US exited the 2015 nuclear accord during Donald Trump’s first term in 2018.

“We have always been cautious about accepting inspectors from countries that have acted hostility toward us over time,” stated Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, referring to personnel from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Tehran will reconsider permitting American inspectors through the agency if a deal is finalized and Iran’s demands are addressed,” he noted.

Since assuming office in January, President Trump has reinstated a “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, which includes imposing additional sanctions on the nation.

On Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei announced that “consultations are ongoing regarding the timing and venue for the next round of negotiations and will be shared by Oman once finalized.”

President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is currently visiting Oman, thanked the Gulf nation for facilitating discussions between the two countries, which have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1979.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is accompanying Pezeshkian in Oman, said that “details regarding the new round of negotiations are expected to be clarified in the coming days.”

Non-Negotiable Issues

While Iranian officials have welcomed the talks, they have consistently stated that uranium enrichment is “non-negotiable.” U.S. officials, including Washington’s representative in the discussions, Steve Witkoff, have also openly identified this as a significant boundary.

Eslami added that the topic of enrichment “has not been raised at all” and that “the enrichment percentage should not be politicized.”

“The enrichment level depends on how the uranium is used. The production of highly enriched uranium does not automatically imply military usage,” he explained to reporters.

Baqaei emphasized that “the continuation of enrichment in Iran is an inseparable part of the country’s nuclear industry and a fundamental principle for the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Any proposals or initiatives that contradict this principle or threaten this right are unacceptable,” he affirmed.

Currently, Iran enriches uranium to up to 60% purity, the highest level achieved by any non-nuclear weapons state. Although this is still below the 90% required for a nuclear weapon, it significantly exceeds the 3.67% ceiling set by the 2015 agreement.

The European parties to the 2015 nuclear deal—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—are considering triggering the agreement’s “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate UN sanctions against Iran for failure to comply.

Tehran has repeatedly warned against implementing this measure.